DuPont settles with EPA for alleged toxic releases, worker death

BELLE, W. Va. (Aug. 28, 2014) — E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. has settled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a case in which the EPA accused the chemical manufacturer of allowing releases of harmful levels of hazardous substances at its Belle plant.

The releases occurred between May 2006 and January 2010, and posed significant risk to the Kanawha River and to the people who lived in the area, the EPA alleged. One worker at the Belle plant died from exposure to the toxic gas phosgene, according to the agency.

DuPont will pay a $1.275 million penalty and take corrective actions to prevent future releases, the EPA said.